It wasn't until she returned home to Maplewood that she realized something was up. Her cellphone was buzzing with congratulatory text messages. Her Facebook and Twitter pages were filling up with posts, too.

The magnitude of her accomplishment sank in when she read the USA Fencing website. Muhammad, 30, was going to Rio de Janiero - as a top-flight sabre fencer and she was making history: She is believed to be the first American Muslim woman to compete in the Olympic games wearing a hijab, the head scarf that covers hear hair.

"I feel like it is groundbreaking and I'm really proud to be that person who can be the first, but also provide an image for other minorities to envision themselves in elite sports," Muhammad said.

This nearly happened four years ago, but Muhammad didn't make the cut. However, not making the team didn't shake her confidence.

She had already surprised the fencing world in 2009, wining the U.S. national title. A year before that, she won a bronze medal in the Pan American championships to earn her place on the U.S. women's national team. Heading into the Olympic qualifier for the 2012 games, Muhammad was ranked No. 2 in the United States and 13th in the world.

The experience motivated her to try again, but she was philosophical in thinking about why she hadn't earned a spot on that team.

"I feel like things that are meant for you are never going to miss you,'' Muhammad said. "That wasn't my Olympic team to make."

This one is.

Muhammad upped her game for the international stage and will compete in team and individual events. She's ranked No. 2 again in the country, and her world status hasimproved to No. 7.

"It's surreal that all of that hard work and all of that dreaming finally came to fruition,'' she said.

Agility drills, cross training and breaking down her matches on video were key. She got stronger, faster and more competitive than she has ever been, representing the Peter Westbrook Foundation in New York City and training out of the Fencers Club in New York City.

"She kept getting better and better," said her coach, Akhnaten Spencer-El. "There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that she would be on this team."

The last four years have blown by as fast as Muhammad can strike an opponent on the fencing strip, the space in which fencers duel.

Often described as "physical chess,'' Muhammad said fencing is cerebral and tactical, a cat-and-mouse game she enjoys as she tries to outsmart her opponents.

"We're living in a time where bigotry and hate made their way back on the political scene," Muhammad said, "and its becoming a norm for people to verbalize their dislike or distrust of minorities, whether that be immigrants or religious minorities like Muslims.''

This young woman, however, is all about progress and empowerment. She even started a clothing line, Louella, which features modest fashions for women.

And then it's back to fencing, and not losing sight of what's important this time around.